"Star Wars: Starfighter - Plot and Timeline Revealed"

The biggest announcement from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the exciting news that Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy is directing Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone, live-action film starring Ryan Gosling. Scheduled to be the next Star Wars film released after 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu, Starfighter will start production this fall and is set to hit theaters on May 28, 2027.

While the plot details are scarce, one key fact has been revealed: Starfighter takes place approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This setting places the film further along the Star Wars timeline than any previous movie or series, venturing into uncharted territory in the Star Wars saga.

The era following The Rise of Skywalker is largely unexplored, leaving fans to speculate based on the film's conclusion and the pre-Disney Legends universe. Let's delve into the significant questions left unanswered by The Rise of Skywalker and consider how Starfighter might tackle them.

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The Star Wars: Starfighter Games

It's worth noting that Star Wars: Starfighter shares its title with a series of games from the PS2/Xbox era. The original Star Wars: Starfighter, released in 2001, and its sequel, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, released in 2002, were set during the events of Episodes I and II, respectively. While the new movie shares the name, it's unlikely to draw plot elements from these games due to its setting decades later. However, the film might incorporate dynamic ship-to-ship combat inspired by Jedi Starfighter, which introduced Force powers into gameplay. Could Gosling's character be both a Jedi and a skilled pilot? This approach could add an exciting dimension to the movie's action sequences.

The Fate of the New Republic

The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, yet it offers little insight into the galaxy's state post-Battle of Exegol. The fate of the New Republic, devastated by the First Order's Starkiller Base attack in The Force Awakens, remains uncertain. Most projects in the Sequel era have focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, leaving the New Republic's status largely unexplored.

It's conceivable that the New Republic still exists during Starfighter's timeline, albeit weakened. Prior to the First Order's rise, the Republic struggled with internal conflicts between Populists and Centrists, as detailed in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline. These tensions could persist as the New Republic attempts to rebuild.

Moreover, remnants of the First Order might still linger five years after Palpatine's defeat. Just as the Empire persisted after the Battle of Endor, the First Order could have rallied around a surviving leader. This scenario suggests a potential power struggle, setting the stage for epic space battles that fans anticipate. Additionally, the galaxy's pirate problem, highlighted in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, could have escalated, providing further chaos for the New Republic to manage.

Gosling's role could involve a New Republic pilot striving to restore order, potentially filling the void left by Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie. Alternatively, he might portray a local defender of a planet seeking to survive without the Republic's aid, or even an ex-First Order trooper akin to John Boyega's Finn. Given its standalone nature, Starfighter may focus on the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, featuring a villain exploiting the galaxy's power vacuum.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker aimed to restore the Jedi Order, and for a time, he succeeded. However, Ben Solo's betrayal, spurred by Snoke and Palpatine, led to the destruction of Luke's temple and the scattering of the Jedi. Luke then withdrew to Ahch-To, leaving the Jedi's fate uncertain.

While many Jedi perished in Ben's attack, it's unlikely all were killed, echoing the incomplete purge of the Jedi during Order 66. The status of Ahsoka Tano, voiced among the Force ghosts in The Rise of Skywalker, remains ambiguous, as Dave Filoni has hinted she's still alive.

Rey Skywalker's mission to rebuild the Jedi Order is the focus of the upcoming New Jedi Order movie, set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Starfighter, set a decade earlier, might not delve into the Jedi's current state unless Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey could make a brief appearance as she seeks to recruit this promising pilot. Otherwise, Starfighter might follow the path of Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story, focusing on ordinary heroes rather than Jedi.

Are the Sith Still Around?

The Rise of Skywalker confirmed Palpatine's role as the central villain, revealing his manipulation of Snoke and survival beyond the Death Star's destruction. With Palpatine's final defeat, the question arises: do the Sith still exist?

The Expanded Universe suggests that Palpatine's demise wouldn't end the Sith. Numerous conflicts post-Return of the Jedi featured Sith successors, and Star Wars: Legacy introduced Darth Krayt over a century later. The Dark Side's allure remains, with potential new threats emerging in Palpatine's absence, such as a hidden apprentice or surviving members of the Knights of Ren.

Whether Starfighter will explore the Sith's current state depends on Gosling's character. If he's not a Jedi, the film might bypass this aspect, leaving it for future projects like the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg's Star Wars trilogy.

Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?

Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a fresh lead with Ryan Gosling and is set in an unexplored period. As a standalone film, it might not feature many familiar faces. However, Star Wars often includes cameos and callbacks, as seen with Darth Maul's appearance in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Poe Dameron, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, seems a likely candidate for a cameo. As one of the galaxy's top pilots and a Resistance hero, he could play a role in rebuilding the New Republic. Chewbacca might also return, possibly as Rey's copilot or alongside Gosling's character in the Millennium Falcon.

John Boyega's Finn could reappear if the film involves the First Order's remnants, given his role in inspiring defecting Stormtroopers. Rey's involvement would hinge on Gosling's character being a Jedi, aligning with her efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order.

Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know in the comments below.

For more on the future of the Star Wars franchise, find out why Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing movies and just make them, and brush up on every Star Wars movie and series in development.